The church in Antioch had been founded by people from Cyprus and Cyrene (Acts 11:20-21). Cyrene is a city on the Mediterranean coast of Africa, near present-day Shahhat, Libya. When Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch, there were five key leaders in the church there: Barnabas (who we learned was from Cyprus back in Acts 4:36) and Saul, Menaen from the court of Herod, Lucius of Cyrene, and Simeon who was called Niger (13:1).

“Simeon called Niger” means Simeon called the Black, which presumably indicates some kind of African lineage. It’s reasonable to suppose that a Greek-speaking Jew with some African blood might well be from Cyrene, as Lucius and other founders of the church in Antioch were. If so, that would raise the intriguing possibility that this might be the “Simon of Cyrene,” the father of Alexander and Rufus, who carried the cross of Jesus (Mark 15:21),

As they were offering their worship to the Lord, on a day dedicated to prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). So with no apparent hesitation, Barnabas and Saul got ready to leave as missionaries, and the other church members “laid their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:3).

That has always fascinated me. Because the work in Antioch was growing and they didn’t have enough leaders, Barnabas had gone to Tarsus to recruit Saul (12:25-26); but shortly afterwards the church had to give up not only Saul but Barnabas also, as the Holy Spirit sent the two of them out on this not-yet-described missionary task. I wonder about this. What would happen if the Holy Spirit said something similar at a church service today? Would we notice that the Spirit had spoken? And if we did, would we proceed to commission and send the required missionaries, or would we end up arguing about whether we could afford to give up two of our best leaders?

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Speak to us, Spirit of God: call us to the service that you have in mind for us, and give us the courage simply to step forward in obedience: as those who are sent, or as those who send. In our worship, in our fasting, in our prayers, teach us to be ready to respond to your direction.